Localization of Function in the Brain

Localisation of function
 is the idea that certain functions (e.g.
language, memory, etc.) have certain
locations or areas within the brain. This
idea has been supported by recent
neuroimaging studies, but was also
examined much earlier, typically using
case studies.
 One such case study is that of Phineas
Gage, who in 1848 while working on a
rail line, experienced a drastic accident
in which a piece of iron went through his
skull. Although Gage survived this
ordeal, he did experience a change in
personality, such as loss of inhibition
and anger. This change provided
evidence to support the theory of
localisation of brain function, as it was
believed that the area the iron stake
damaged was responsible for
personality.
 Phineas Gage is often referred to as
one of the most famous patients in
neuroscience. He suffered a traumatic
brain injury when an iron rod was driven
through his entire skull, destroying
much of his frontal lobe. Gage
miraculously survived the accident but
was so changed as a result that many
of his friends described him as an
almost different man entirely.
The Aftermath
 In the months that followed, Gage
returned to his parent's home in New
Hampshire to recuperate. When Harlow
saw Gage again the following year, the
doctor noted that while Gage had lost
vision in his eye and was left with
obvious scars from the accident, he was
in good physical health and appeared
recovered.
 Popular reports of Gage often depict
him as a hardworking, pleasant man
prior to the accident. Post-accident,
these reports describe him as a
changed man, suggesting that the injury
had transformed him into a surly,
aggressive drunkard who was unable to
hold down a job.
How Severe Was Phineas Gage's
Brain Damage?
 In a 1994 study, researchers utilized
neuroimaging techniques to reconstruct
Gage's skull and determine the exact
placement of the injury. Their findings
indicate that he suffered injuries to both
the left and right prefrontal cortices,
which would result in problems with
emotional processing and rational
decision-making.
 Another study conducted in 2004 that
involved using three-dimensional,
computer-aided reconstruction to
analyze the extent of Gage's injury
found that the effects were limited to the
left frontal lobe.
 In 2012, new research estimated that
the iron rod destroyed approximately 11
percent of the white matter in Gage's
frontal lobe and 4 percent of his
cerebral cortex.
Gage's Influence on Psychology
 Gage's case had a tremendous influence on early
neurology. The specific changes observed in his
behavior pointed to emerging theories about
the localization of brain function, or the idea that
certain functions are associated with specific areas of
the brain.
 Today, scientists better understand the role that the
frontal cortex has to play in important higher-order
functions such as reasoning, language, and social
cognition. In those years, while neurology was in its
infancy, Gage's extraordinary story served as one of
the first sources of evidence that the frontal lobe was
involved in personality.
What Happened to Phineas
Gage?
 After the accident, Gage was unable to return to his previous job.
According to Harlow, Gage spent some time traveling through New
England and Europe with his tamping iron in order to earn money,
supposedly even appearing in the Barnum American Museum in New
York.

 He worked briefly at a livery stable in New Hampshire and then spent

seven years as a stagecoach driver in Chile. He eventually moved to
San Francisco to live with his mother as his health deteriorated. After
suffering a series of epileptic seizures, Gage died on May 20, 1860,
almost 13 years after his accident.

 Seven years later, Gage's body was exhumed and his skull and the
tamping rod were taken to Dr. Harlow. Today, both can be seen at the
Harvard University School of Medicine.
There are four key areas that you
need to be aware of:
 Motor
 Somatosensory
 visual and
 auditory areas
Motor Area
 The motor area is located in the frontal lobe and is
responsible for voluntary movements by sending
signals to the muscles in the body. Hitzig and Fritsch
(1870) first discovered that different muscles are
coordinated by different areas of the motor cortex by
electrically stimulating the motor area of dogs. This
resulted in muscular contractions in different areas of
the body depending on where the probe was
inserted. The regions of the motor area are arranged
in a logical order, for example, the region that
controls finger movement is located next to the region
that controls the hand and arm and so on.
Somatosensory Area
 The somatosensory area is located in the parietal
lobe and receives incoming sensory information from
the skin to produce sensations related to pressure,
pain, temperature, etc. Different parts of the
somatosensory area receive messages from different
locations of the body. Robertson (1995) found that
this area of the brain is highly adaptable, with Braille
readers having larger areas in the somatosensory
area for their fingertips compared to normal sighted
participants.
Visual Area

 At the back of the brain, in the occipital

lobe is the visual area, which receives and
processes visual information. Information
from the right-hand side visual field is
processed in the left hemisphere, and
information from the left-hand side visual field
is processed in the right hemisphere. The
visual area contains different parts that
process different types of information
including colour, shape or movement.
Auditory Area

 The auditory area is located in the temporal

lobe and is responsible for analysing and
processing acoustic information. Information
from the left ear goes primarily to the right
hemisphere and information from the right ear
goes primarily to the left hemisphere. The
auditory area contains different parts, and the
primary auditory area is involved in
processing simple features of sound,
including volume, tempo and pitch.